Automatic centrifugal hydraulic flywheel



Jan. 30, 1945. A. M. ALEXANDRESCU 2,363,437

AUTOMATIC CENTRIFUGAL HYDRAULIC FLYWHEEL 3 Sheets-Sheet. ll.

Filed Jan. 23, 1942 J 30, 1945' A. M. ALEXANDRESCU AUTOMATICCENTRIFUG'AL HYDRAULIC FLYWHEEL Z" Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1942:EEEIEE Ill ' Ema GttomegS.

A. M. ALEXANDRESCU 2,368,437

AUTOMATIC CENTRIFUGAL HYDRAULIC FLYWHEEL Jan. 30, 1945.

s Sheets-She et 3 Filed Jan, 23, 1942 B m ui zexarzdrascu Patented Jan.30, 1945 V UNITED STATES PATENT- r 2,368,437 a 1 AUTOMATIC CEN'TRIEUGALHYDRAULIC Alexander M. Alexandresc'u, Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationJanuary 23, 1942, Serial No. 427,998 3 Claims. (011192-58) The presentinvention relates to improvements in automatic centrifugal hydraulicflywheels and is useful in connection with automobiles, trucks, busses,submarines, warships of all descriptions, small and large boats, armytanks, trains, and also in connection with. large machinery in whichinternal combustion engines, Diesel engines, electric motors, or otherdevices for transmitting power in which heavy loads are to be moved. Anobject of the invention is to produce a device that may, serve as aclutch and transmission to be automatically operated by the speed of theengine or motor and to act to increase the efficiency of the speed and-transportation factors of the power plant.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and durableconstruction, silent in operation, with a minimum of wear inthe movinparts, and which construction will produce smooth starting, will preventjerking in starting, particularly where heavy loads are to be moved.

--A further object of the invention'is to provide an improved devicethat will prevent stalling of the engine particularly on upgrades withheavy loads. I 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionthat admits of its utility in connection with either light, or heavyduty service that will act to pick up loads slowly irrespect'ive ofmotor speed, but which will act to put in motion the'load to the desiredspeed within a relatively short space of time.

' A still further object of the invention is to take advantage of thepower developed by cen trifugal force as well as the motive'power of theoil or other fluid used in connection with the two relatively rotatingparts of the improved hydraulic flywheel. I p

It is a further object of the invention to discard the shifting of gearsor the use of a'clutch, or device acting as an automatic transmission.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device at low costcomparatively to production cost of the conventional clutch andtransmission and which will serve in a dual capacity for both of theseitems. v v

With theforegoing and other objects in view, theinvention will be morefully described here: inafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.- v In the drawings, wherein like symbolsrefer to like or corresponding parts throughoutthe. several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical section, taken on the line l-l of Figure 2,illustrating an improved auto matic centrifugalhydl'aulic flywheelconstructed in accordance with the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on theline2-2'ofFigure 1. f

Figure 3 is a similar section taken onth'e line 33 of Figure 1. 1 aFigure 4. is also a transverse vertical taken on the line 4"4 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the'line 5--5 in Figure 1.. p 7Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6+-Bin Figure-1.; V

Figure '7 is a view'similarxto Figure llsho'wing a modified form of thedevice. Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line ll-Bin'Figure7. a z ,1- I Figure 9 is a fragmentaryvertical sectionisimi lar toFigure 8 with the parts shownin' an, ad vanced position,and.-: q v. s

Figure 10 is a section taken on scale on the line |0I0 in Figure 9;

Referring more particularly to Figures l t'o 6 inclusive, l Idesignates-the crank shaft of an in temal combustion engine, of which I2designates the last or rear cylinder and 13 represents the section crankcase.v The oil pump (not shown) driven bearing I5; This bearing isshownmore "particu larly in'Fig'ure 5 in which the bearing l5 has the usualcap [6 removably secured. in place by the bolts I! or other fastenings.The bearing metal is represented at I8 and I9; In this bearing metal andin the adjacent face of the crank shaft is formed an annular groove 20which communi cates by meansof one orf moreradial passages 2| with theoil intake art2: with which the on line Mconnects. The radialpassages'zl communi cate' at their inner'ends with a central chamber 23'formed in the end of the crank shaft ll.

In this crank shafta'nd ai'riallydisplaced'from th group of radialpassagesg'l; is a second group of oil passages 24' whichJcoxhniunicateat their inner ends withthecentral chamber 23,.and at the outer ends"of. such passages f-'2 may: deliver 911 to'the centrallfiywheelspace'25; Outwardly of the bearing. l5, .the crankshaft l I carries aflangezli .towhich the flywheel 21 is an enlarged means. Thisconstruction is also shown in Figure 4. The flywheel 21 is rigidlyconnected with the crank shaft l I and constantly rotates therewith. Theflywheel 21 is made hollow and has a removable cover 29 enclosing oneside of the same which may be {fastened to the flywheel 21 as by the useof bolts or other suitable fastenings 30.

Within the hollow space concentrically arranged with respect to theflywheel is a load member 3| which is freely iotatable within such flywheel. This load member is formed with an inwardly projecting annularweb 32 which is con nected with an outstanding flange 33 on a collar 34.The collar is keyed, as at 55 to a shaft 36. This shaft 36 has a reducedend 31 rotatably mounted in a bronze or other bearing 38 which is fittedinto a recess 39 in the end of the crank shaft H, which crank shaftextends up to the line 40. The collar or bushing 34 is internallyrecessed as at 41 to fit over the externally reduced and 42 6f the cranksham- Thus the crank shaft is fo'iififl with recesses 39 and; one ofltvhi'ch is internal and t e otherv err-rerun to receiv respeetiveiy thead acent fi'd portions of the shaft 36 and the collar or bushing topermit both the shaft 36 fifid the seller 64 as a keyed him; to rotatewith respect to the crank shaft 1 I. The collar of bushing 34 at itsopposite end is iiiter nally recessed, as 55 13 to be received over andto rotate about a bearing 44 preferably carried by the removable coverplate 29L niternaiiytne slima is famed with a bore 45 Iorminglacontinuation of the central chamber 23 or the crank shatt. At-the leftend of the bore 45 is one or more right angular ducts 48 extendhissubstantially radially out through the shaft 36, as shown in Figure 3,to deliver oil or lubri cent to abetting 1' which is mounted in abearifig boss (8 carried by the external fixed flywheel cover 4 9. Thiscover is renm'ivably v affixed, at by bolts-50; to a part of the engineblocl: 5|. Leakage'bf oil from hearin -n toward the left will encounterthe reversely turned screw threads 52 which will have a tendency toforce the oil back and to tlirovvv it outwardly into an annularcompartment 53 having it discharge port 54 at the bottom communicatingdirectly with the forward part of the crank case H y wh th Oil aftercirculating throueh the bearing 41 may be returned to. the oil pump. Ina. similar Way leak age of oil from the bearing 41 toward th right willbe directly delivered back into the crank case. I The shaft 36 atitsleft and may, if desired. carry a clutch plate 55 for connection toany usual form of clutch and transmission this being particularlydesirable for extra heavy loads.- However, I the clutch plate may bedispensed with; as shewn in Figure Land the shaft 36 will be directlycoupled to a shiit mechanism which will serve for forward or backwarddrives or neutral positiom Between the mutual edges of the From anexamination of Figures -1 and 8 it will be apparent that sucharrangement of teeth forms a zig-zag line transversely across theopposed edges of the reaction members 56 and 51 which in mechanicaleffect increases the marginal exposed edges of the two reaction membersto multiply the reaction efiect between such members, as well as toprovide a zig-zag transverse passage between the reaction membersthrough which the oil is forced. I

Viewing Figure 2, thereaction members 56 on the flywheel are twenty-fourin number which is a satisfactory numerical arrangement; while theopposite reaction members 51 of the load membe! are twenty in number,which has been found to be a satisfactory numerical arrangement in itsrelationship to the numerical arrangement of twenty-four of the outerreaction members 56.

flywheel Hand the loadmembertl are reaction members. 56 and 5 Thesemembers are spaced irom' cne another circumierentiau around the flywheeland lead member, as shown in Figure 2. consent ed es of the reactionmembers at ends! are termed, as shown in Figure 1. with series. of.teeth 58 and 59, The. teeth, are separated bvflsha es at and 5 or the.general ions of the teethihe sfiacestu bein disposed radially cppcsitethe teeth 59 and the. spaces radially op- .posite the teeth- 58. The.teem may be or a eerieral-ly triangular form r of a v-snape with theire'pex s removed as ihdlcatedin Figures 1 and 2 crleft intact as shown inFigures 7 and 10,

It will also be noted from Figure 2 that the angular distance betweenadjacent circumferential reaction members 56 is less than the angulardistance between adjacent circumferential reaction members 51, so thatthe majority of reaction members 51 will be at all times radially out ofstep with the reaction members 56 of the flywheel. With this numericaland radial arrange merit, only four of the reaction members willc'oincide radially and this four will be in diametrically oppositepairs. Otherwise stated coincidence between reaction members 56 and 51occurs at each quadrant of the circle of the two members, that is suchcoincidence occurs at intervals. Inasmuch as the greatest resistance isencountered at the points of such coincidence of the reaction members 56and 51, the fact that these points are distributed at regular annulardistances around the circle of the flywheel, and that the intermediatereaction members are all out of step; prevents a jerky start and insuresa smooth and silent starting of the load from its position of rest. Inthis. way the inertia of the load is silently, smoothly and yet swiftlyovercome to provide drive of great flexibility.

All of these characteristics are greatly enhanced by the centrifugalforce developed in the body of oil or other fluid in the inner orcentral chamber of the flywheel. This centrifugal force causes the oilto move out at the sides of the load member and to get into the outerpart of the flywheel.- Such oilis thrown out into the pockets providedbetween the reaction members 56 of the flywheel and the reaction members56, which are rotating with the engine, carry such oil around withtheflywheel. Also the centrifugal force will supply oil to the pocketsbetween the reaction members 51 of the load member. It will also beremembered that the oil is being furnished under pressure by the pumpthrough the pipe line H, which not only lubricates both bearings butalso supplies necessary oil to the internal central chamber of theflywheel.

As the flywheel rotates incident to its rigid consection to the crankshaft of the engine, it will tend to carry around with it the body ofoil en reaction members force bodies of oil against the inner membersthus causing compression of the oil as the outer members approach andpass the inner members. So soon as an outer reaction member 56 haspassed an inner reaction member 51 and recedes circumferentiallytherefrom, a condition of partial vacuum tends to form behind theflywheel reaction members 56. This condition of partial vacuum tends tocause the reaction member 51 to move up faster to satisfy this partialvacuum. Thus the conditions of pressure on one side and partial vacuumon the other side of the inner reaction members 51 works doubly andcontinuously throughout the entire circle of the device to cause theinner load member to acquire the speed of the outer flywheel in theshortest space of time yet with smoothness and flexibility. As thereaction members approach and pass one another, the spaces therebetweendecrease and increase so as to diminish on the pressure side and enlargeon the vacuum side the port area through which the oil must pass.

. It will be understood that the centrifugal ac-. tion developed by therotation of the flywheel which causes the oil to seek an outer positionagainst the flywheel and in the Pockets thereof between reaction members56, will also result in a corresponding displacement of the internal airwithin the flywheel toward the center of such flywheel, up to a pointwhere the flywheel chamber becomes full of oil,-such air will be forcedout along the shaft 36 and will be permitted to' escape into the crankcase and into the sur rounding air, I

Although I have stated as a satisfactory ex- 62 of the load member.Preferably the fixed members 51 alternate with the slidable members 51Such slidable members 51 are carried on the outer ends of weight blocks63. These weight blocks have lateral guides 64 for guiding same in aradial reciprocating movement. Moreover the weight blocks are preferablyguided by ribs 65 projecting out from the collar 34 and engaging ingrooves 66 made in the weight blocks 63.

The ribs 65 are preferably in radial alinement with the slidable blades51 Coil springs 61 or other suitable devices are employed to bias theweight blocks'and blades 51 to an inner position. The weight blocks 63are adapted to come under the influence of centrifugal force during therotary motion of the load member and the load of the springs 61 is soselected that the blades 51 will moveout to a desired outermost positionat a predetermined maximum rotational speed of the load member.

Figures 7 and 8 show the retarded position of the blades 51 whileFigures 9 and- 10 show the advance or outer position of the same.

With this form of device the starting will be rather slow due to theinitial position of the blades 51 leaving gaps of maximum width betweenthe reaction members and their teeth. However, as the speed of the loadmember increases to a point where the inertia of the weight blocks 63 isovercome and the blades'51 move outwardly to close up such spaces, theacceleraample a ratio of twenty-four to twenty in the might be made inany other numerical ratio.

It will be further understood that the centrifugal force to which theoil in the flywheel is exposed will not only throw the oil out radiallyto all parts of the reaction members 56 but will also tend to put theoil under compression which will further enhance it as a transmissionmedium.

The influence of such compressed medium will tend to lock the parts morefirmly together when the load member finally acquires the speed of theflywheel.

When the engine speed is reduced the load member will tend to out-runthe flywheel and the inner reaction members 51 will rotate relatively tothe outer reaction members 56 but: the action will be as previouslydescribed, the formation of the teeth 58 and 59 tending to act as aneffective brake to rapidly slow down the load member.

Referring more particularly to Figures 7 to 10 of the drawings, in thisform certain of the inner reaction members 51 are made slidable inguides tion from this point on will be Very rapid and will increase inratio with the increase inspeed of the load member, reaching its maximumwhen all of the blades 51*- are projected to outermost position. If theouter ends of the blades 51 are initially in the same circle with theouter ends of the fixed reaction members 51, then the initial orstarting movement will be the same as in the first form of the device,but a soon as the load member acquires a predetermined speed of rotationthen each alternate blade 51 will be thrown out proportionately thusincreasing the efficiency of the device over the first form and creatinga device of increasing acceleration.

In this second form of the device the apexes of the teeth are also leftintact which further reduces the port area of the fluid space betweenthe teeth to create a greater grip of the flywheel to the load member.

' It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made inthe details of construction and design of the above specificallydescribed embodiment of this invention without departing from the spiritthereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by thescope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A combined liquid clutch and flywheel comprising an outer hollowclosed member, an inner member within and spaced from the sides of theouter member, reaction blades on the members projecting towards oneanother and having transverse and radial zigzag continuous spacesopening at the sides of the inner member, a liquid chamber centrally ofthe outer closed member communicating with the blades and ends of thezigzag spaces through the spaces at the sides of the members, means tosupply liquid to said tively rotated, and means to-relieve from' -saidchamber the air pressure generated-by the building up of liquid volumecentrifugally in the outer part of the closed outer member.

' 3. An automatic centrifugal combined liquid clutch and flywheelcomprising a positivelydriven hollow member having (in its outer partinwardly-projecting reaction members forming pockets therebetween, aload member rotatably mounted within and free of the hollow member andhaving mutual outwardly-projecting reaction members, said reactionmembers constructed and arranged as to their mutual edges to form spacesthat are continuous and zigzag in both axial and said blocks.

ALEXANDER M. ALEXANDRESCU.

